Family business: TNT's Cafe co-owner credits strong ties between employees, patrons for 25 years of success

Friday

Mar 10, 2017 at 5:00 PMMar 10, 2017 at 5:02 PM

Rene Ray De La Cruz Staff Writer @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

HESPERIA — Tonette Steele said it’s more than the “luck of the Irish” that’s helped her restaurant survive over two decades of business in the High Desert.

Steele, the co-owner of TNT’s Cafe, told the Daily Press the Hesperia eatery will celebrate it’s 25th anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day with hefty amounts of corn beef and cabbage, prizes and all things green for its customers.

“Twenty-five years is a long time to be around, but we made it with the help of our family.” said Steele during the cafe’s lunch rush Monday where nearly every table was occupied with hungry diners.

Steele said her family is comprised of her biological family, and the restaurant’s “family of employees and customers” who have made TNT part of their daily routines since 1992.

“We’ve seen many of our families grow to have children and even grandchildren,” Steele said. “I can point to each table and tell you stories about that family. That’s one of the many blessings that comes with operating the cafe.”

Steele said cook Rigo Berto and server Lena Harrell have prepared countless meals and served a sea of customers during their 24 years at the Hesperia restaurant.

She added that dishwasher Maria Rodriguez, 60, has been with the eatery for 18 years, cook Jose Galvan for 17 years and server Terri Allen, the eatery’s newest family member, with one year under her belt.

"Working here is a great experience because it never slows down," said hostess Claudia Maldonado, who's been with TNT's for three years. "I love working with everyone here and our customers are the best."

Steele said the “strong family bond between customer and employee” and the “outstanding food and customer service” are the key ingredients to a successful 25-year run.

“We have 19 employees and I have no turnover,” said Steele as a group of customers at a nearby table exchanged laughter over hot cups of coffee and stacks of pancakes. “You may not believe this, but I have a waiting list of people that want to work here.”

Kevin Lyneis, marketing associate at Sysco Corporation, told the Daily Press the “quality, quantity and consistency” of the food served at the restaurant makes TNT’s a “mainstay” in the High Desert.

“The management, employees and customers at TNT’s are loyal to each other,” Lyneis said. “Tonette and her family have also been loyal to Sysco and to their vendors for years. Integrity across the board is the backbone to success.”

After opening several successful eateries in Bullhead City, Steele's parents, Tony and Sue Paoletto, moved the family to the High Desert in 1987. Soon after, Steele’s siblings, Steven, Robbie and Kathy, rolled up their sleeves to help the family open and operate several restaurants in the Victor Valley over the next decade.

Steele’s family began scaling down their business efforts after their mother was diagnosed with cancer — an illness that would soon find it’s way to Steele.

A breast cancer survivor, Steele said it was a “blessing in disguise” when she was sidelined for about a year during treatment. She added that during that time, she learned the importance of drawing closer to God, prioritizing life issues and serving others.

Steele said she tries to give back to the community through the restaurant by donating to various charities and helping others to get back on their feet, including a local homeless man who gained back a bit of self esteem by working at the restaurant.

“People that don’t know our story tell me I need to open another restaurant,” Steele said. “I appreciate their encouragement, but we have our hands full with this one.”

Steele said the biggest challenges to running TNT's Cafe is the upkeep to the aging building that was constructed sometime in the 1980s and keeping up with new state regulations that affect the food industry.

“The last 25 years have been a huge blessing to us all and I hope the community will join us for our big celebration day (on March 17),” Steele said. “We love our customers and we’re hoping to serve our community for many years to come.”

TNT’s Cafe is located at 14767 Bear Valley Road in Hesperia, just east of Mariposa Road. Store hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, search "TNT’s Cafe" on Facebook or call 760- 947-3663.

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa Cruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

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